Prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete shelving element for forming storage spaces

ABSTRACT

A prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete element, suitable for the construction of shelvings and the like for storage purposes has a pair of parallel flanges interconnected by a crossweb so that, in plan, the element has an H-shape. The upper edges of the flanges and web are formed with relatively wide ribs extending at right angles thereto from both sides thereof. The elements may be stacked to form a plurality of columns, and the columns may be juxtaposed with each other to form a plurality of storage spaces. Means are provided for securing adjacent elements to each other.

Waited States Patent 9] Ferrari et a1.

[54] PREFABRICATED SELF-SUPPORTING REINFORCED CONCRETE SHELVING ELEMENT FOR FORMING STORAGE SPACES [76] Inventors: Arch Renzo Ferrari, Via Donizetti 39, Milano; Luciano Ciccotelli, Via South Gottardo 76, Monza, both of Italy [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 711,058

[52] 11.8. CI. ..52/36, 52/125, 52/236, 108/53, 211/177 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65d 19/18 [58] Field of Search ..52/36, 79, 125, 122, 52/236, 584, 663; 211/177; 108/53 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,208,589 7/1940 Leemhuis ..52/584 2,049,733 8/1936 Davis ..52/236 2,881,876 4/1959 Williams. .....52/122 3,555,830 l/l97l York ..52/609 764,028 7/1904 Alford ...21 1/177 2,010,294 8/1935 Dovell 52/236 3,587,483 6/1971 Konstant..... ...21 1/177 487,460 12/1892 Wernicke.... ...2l l/177 2,527,063 10/1950 Heuer ..52/125 [451 May 29, 1973 3/1904 Morrison ..52/l25 12/1967 Johnson .....2l1/l77 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 55,103 2/1912 Austria ..52/609 422,214 1/1911 France ...52/236 40,879 7/1958 Poland ..52/79 238,389 4/1960 Australia... ...52/609 662,021 7/1938 Germany ...52/584 430,996 8/1967 Switzerland ..52/575 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Assistant Examiner-Leslie A Braun AttorneyMcGlew and Toren [5 7 ABSTRACT 3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENIE W2 91m SHEET 2 OF 4 RARI AND C! (to'rEl-U WW PATENTEU W29 I973 3, 7 35 548 SHEEI 3 UF 4 INVENTOFS RENZO FERRARI BY LUCIANO accorau mgw W 5)? ATTORNEYS FF JO S 0 O EMW wm mmwm SHEET 4 OF 4 A M J 5 6 fi/ 4 1 w w w Q J I A, a M

PATENTED MAY 2 9 i975 FREFABRIQATED SELF-SUPPORTHQG REINFGRCEII CGNCRETE SHELVING ELEMENT FUR FORMING STORAGE SPACES SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a prefabricated selfsupporting element of reinforced concrete, particularly suitable, when several such elements are placed side by side and in stacked relationship, for the construction of shelving or the like, for the storage of materials, both materials on pallets, and loose or packaged materials, which may be placed into the storage spaces or silos by hand or by mechanical power, or by means of translifters and the like. These elements furthermore are such as to constitute integral parts of the structures of an industrial shed, which will require only the addition of a covering, which may be either specially designed or of a standardized type, available on the market.

The element forming the object of the invention may be cast according to any one of the construction methods for forming pieces of reinforced concrete, prefabricated and possibly prestressed, vibrated and dried, naturally or artificially.

More precisely, the element has, in a plan view, the shape of an H with protruding ribs and fins adapted to form bearing plates for the pallets and the like: the same element could be formed by the combination of elements of different shapes, but such as to form, when assembled elements which are practically I-I-shaped.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The details and the manner of application of the element, and the advantages brought about by the utilization of the element itself, will clearly appear from the following disclosure, which should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a bottom plan view of an element embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the element shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an axonometric view of the same element, when viewed from above;

FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 3, of the same element, but when seen from below;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a shed formed by means of elements like the one illustrated in the preceding figures;

FIG. ti is a side view of the shed illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view, like FIG. I, of a second embodiment of the element according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a detailed sectional view illustrating means for adjustably interconnecting two stacked elements;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are sectional views, taken on the lines A--A and B-B, respectively, of FIG. 8; and

FIG. II is a partial plan view of a shed obtained by elements like those illustrated in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION on THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As may be seen in FIGS. 1 to 4 the element according to the invention, as illustrated in these figures, is a reinforced concrete element including a pair of parallel flanges 3' interconnected by a web 3 extending perpendicular to flanges 3'. Flanges 3' have ribs or reinforcements I formed at their opposite ends, and ribs or reinforcements 2 are formed at the junctions of web 3 with the flanges 3'. The upper edges of flanges 3' and web 3 are formed with laterally projecting planar ribs 4, forming a support surface, these ribs 4 extending in both opposite directions from flanges 3' and web 3. The lower edges of flanges 3' are formed with substantially rectangular notches 5 for seating stringers or joists of any desired material and adapted to support pallets, benches, or materials to be stored, when this is possible or necessary. The spaces between ribs d of an element, or of two elements juxtaposed to each other, may be closed or integrated by hollow tiles or the like so as to form a continuous and larger bearing surface.

The H-shape of the fundamental element appears clearly, especially considering FIGS; 1, 3 and 4.

In FIG. 7 there is illustrated, in plan view, an H- shaped element, according to the instant invention, however slightly different from the one illustrated in FIGS. 1 4i and indicated by numeral 7'. It is, to wit, simplified with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, inasmuch as there are eliminated the ribs, pillars, or reinforcements I and 2 and the elements are formed by simple reinforced concrete walls, indicated at 3a and 3b, provided at their upper edges with ribs or fins 4'.

. Such elements are then utilized, like the previous ones and as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, that is to say juxtaposed and stacked to generate columns of shelvings, self-bearing.

FIG. 5 illustrates, in plan, the manner in which several elements 7 or 7' embodying the invention are arranged and intercoupled to provide shelving of a storage shed or a store. The walls of the shelving unit are defined by a plurality of U-shaped reinforced concrete elements 6 similar to the elements '7 and 7' but having a U-shape rather than an I-l-shape. The elements 6 are interconnected by reinforced concrete boards 8. Each bottom element 7, 7', or 6 has stacked thereon additional identical elements I, 7 or 6, as best seen in FIG. 6 which illustrates, in elevation, the stacks or columns of the elements. While eight stack elements are illustrated in FIG. 6, the number stacked on each other.

could be more or less than eight.

The connection between two stacked elements may be attained in any suitable way.

In FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 there is illustrated one such connection by way of example.

According to such system, into each of the elements 7 or 7' there are embodied, at the time of the casting and in registry with the central transversal wall, of each I-I shaped element, small channel or box shaped elements I5 and 16 such as steel sections, as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. More precisely, the box shaped element embedded in the top element 7 (FIG. 8) is formed by two lengths of angle iron Ill and 11, and the surface thereof facing the outside of the shelf element is formed with an elongated slot 12 for receiving the shank of a bolt I3 also extending through a like slot 14 provided in the metal box shaped element 16, of the underlying shelf element, formed from metal plates, slot 14 being elongated in a direction at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the slot 12 of the element 15.

That is to say, owing to the shape of the slots 12 and M, at the time of the connection of two overlapped elements 7 or 7 the adjustment of the mutual position of the two overlapped elements will be simple and very easy, in that displacements of one element, with respect to the other, are possible along two directions at right angles to each other, that is in any direction.

Furthermore, inasmuch as the fixing of the bolts to the box shaped elements and 16 takes place, for each element, by means of two nuts, as may be seen clearly in FIG. 8, the adjustment of the height too of the two overlapped elements, which are connected to the system being taken into account, may be efi'ected easily. Thus there is assured a perfect vertical alignment of each of the columns forming the shelving, besides an easy adjustment along the other two directions.

In FIG. 11 there is illustrated, in plan view and only partially, an arrangement of the elements of the type 7 of FIG. '7, for providing a shed with shelvings. There can be seen, for example, how the elements 7' are placed with the ribs or flanges 4 thereof forming the support surfaces for pwets or the like, of the desired shelving for stock. The number of elements 7' stacked to provide columns of the shelving may be varied in accordance with need, and the stacked elements can be interconnected with each other by the means illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.

In FIG. 11, there are also illustrated, clearly, the reduced elements 17, produced like the elements 6 (FIG. 5) in order to make up the outer walls of the shed. They are, that is to say, U-shaped elements instead of being I'l-shaped and have arms 27 protruding as extensions of the wall forming the base of the U, and being such as to allow an easy reciprocal fastening of the elements along vertical lines, with relevant sealing means.

From the foregoing, it will be understood how, using a reinforced concrete element in accordance with the present invention, it is easy and economical to provide stock rooms for any material whatsoever, the rooms being very resistant to fire and comprising solely reinforced concrete elements. When desired, the inner space of a store house or shed, such as illusu'ated in FIGS. 5 and 6, may be subdivided into independent rooms by means of reinforced concrete boards such as those illustrated at 8.

Of course all of the constructional details and the sizes of the elements, may be varied under the circurnstances, without however departing from the scope of the instant invention.

What we claim is:

l. A shelving construction comprising substantially identical prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete elements for erecting shelving and shelved structures; each element having an H-shape in plan view and comprising a pair of substantially parallel normally vertical flanges interconnected, intermediate their ends, by a normally vertical web perpendicular to said flanges; the upper and lower edges of said web being co-planar with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said flanges; the upper edges of said flanges and webs having co-planar normally horizontal lateral extensions projecting from both opposite lateral surfaces of said flanges and webs to form supports for shelves, loadbearing pallets and stock; said elements being superposable in vertical alignment to form a shelving construction of a desired height; connection means interconnecting a pair of superposed elements; said connection means including a first substantially horizontal plate embedded in the lower element and a second substantially horizontal plate embedded in the upper element; each plate having an elongated slot therein, and the two slots extending at right angles to each other; a bolt extending through the two slots and having a head; a first nut threaded on the bolt to clamp one of said plates between said first nut and the head of said bolt; and a pair of second nuts threaded on the bolt and engageable with respective opposite surfaces of the other plate; whereby, by virtue of the mutually perpendicular slots, the two superposed elements can be adjusted laterally with respect to each other and, by virtue of the two second nuts, the vertical spacing between the two superposed elements can be adjusted.

2. A shelving construction comprising substantially identical prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete elements for erecting shelving and shelved structures; each element having an I-l-shape in plan view and comprising a pair of substantially parallel normally vertical flanges interconnected, intermediate their ends, by a normally vertical web perpendicular to said flanges; the upper and lower edges of said web being co-planar with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said flanges; the upper edges of said flanges and webs having co-planar normally horizontal lateral extensions projecting from both opposite lateral surfaces of said flanges and webs to form supports for shelves, loadbearing pallets and stock; said elements being superposable in vertical alignment to form a shelving construction of a desired height; prefabricated selfsupporting reinforced concrete elements each having a U-shape in plan and comprising a pair of substantially parallel normally vertical flanges interconnected, at one end, with each other by a normally vertical web perpendicular to said flanges; the upper and lower edges of said web being co-planar with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said flanges, the upper edges of said last-named flanges having normally horizontal lateral extensions projecting from both opposite lateral surfaces thereof and the upper edge of said web having a normally horizontal lateral extension projecting from at least one lateral surface thereof; the height of each U-shape element being substantially equal to the height of each H-shape element; said U-shape elements being superposable in vertical alignment to form a shelving construction of a desired height and to form, when arranged with their flanges projecting inwardly of the area occupied by the shelving, a closure wall for the space containing the shelving; said U-shape elements being arranged in laterally spaced relation; said shelving construction further including prefabricated selfsupporting reinforced concrete plates interconnecting spaced U-shape elements to complete the wall of the shelving enclosure.

3. A shelving construction comprising substantially identical prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete elements for erecting shelving and shelved structures; each element having an H-shape in plan view and comprising a pair of substantially parallel normally vertical flanges interconnected, intermediate their ends, by a normally vertical web perpendicular to said flanges; the upper and lower edges of said web being co-planar with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said flanges; the upper edges of said flanges and webs having co-planar normally horizontal lateral extensions projecting from both opposite lateral surfaces of said flanges and webs to form supports for shelves, loadbearing pallets and stock; said elements being superposable in vertical alignment to form a shelving construction of a desired height; prefabricated selfsupporting reinforced concrete elements each having a U-shape in plan and comprising a pair of substantially parallel normally vertical flanges interconnected, at

one end,'with each other by a normally vertical web perpendicular to said flanges; the upper and lower edges of said web being co-planar with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said flanges; the upper edges of said last-named flanges having normally horizontal lateral extensions projecting from both opposite lateral surfaces thereof and the upper edge of said web having a normally horizontal lateral extension projecting from at least one lateral surface thereof; the height of each U-shape element being substantially equal to the height of each H-shape element; said U-shape elesure.

0 t I t 

1. A shelving construction comprising substantially identical prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete elements for erecting shelving and shelved structures; each element having an H-shape in plan view and comprising a pair of substantially parallel normally vertical flanges interconnected, intermediate their ends, by a normally vertical web perpendicular to said flanges; the upper and lower edges of said web being co-planar with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said flanges; the upper edges of said flanges and webs having co-planar normally horizontal lateral extensions projecting from both opposite lateral surfaces of said flanges and webs to form supports for shelves, load-bearing pallets and stock; said elements being superposable in vertical alignment to form a shelving construction of a desired height; connection means interconnecting a pair of superposed elements; said connection means including a first substantially horizontal plate embedded in the lower element and a second substantially horizontal plate embedded in the upper element; each plate having an elongated slot therein, and the two slots extending at right angles to each other; a bolt extending through the two slots and having a head; a first nut threaded on the bolt to clamp one of said plates between said first nut and the head of said bolt; and a pair of second nuts threaded on the bolt and engageable with respective opposite surfaces of The other plate; whereby, by virtue of the mutually perpendicular slots, the two superposed elements can be adjusted laterally with respect to each other and, by virtue of the two second nuts, the vertical spacing between the two superposed elements can be adjusted.
 2. A shelving construction comprising substantially identical prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete elements for erecting shelving and shelved structures; each element having an H-shape in plan view and comprising a pair of substantially parallel normally vertical flanges interconnected, intermediate their ends, by a normally vertical web perpendicular to said flanges; the upper and lower edges of said web being co-planar with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said flanges; the upper edges of said flanges and webs having co-planar normally horizontal lateral extensions projecting from both opposite lateral surfaces of said flanges and webs to form supports for shelves, load-bearing pallets and stock; said elements being superposable in vertical alignment to form a shelving construction of a desired height; prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete elements each having a U-shape in plan and comprising a pair of substantially parallel normally vertical flanges interconnected, at one end, with each other by a normally vertical web perpendicular to said flanges; the upper and lower edges of said web being co-planar with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said flanges, the upper edges of said last-named flanges having normally horizontal lateral extensions projecting from both opposite lateral surfaces thereof and the upper edge of said web having a normally horizontal lateral extension projecting from at least one lateral surface thereof; the height of each U-shape element being substantially equal to the height of each H-shape element; said U-shape elements being superposable in vertical alignment to form a shelving construction of a desired height and to form, when arranged with their flanges projecting inwardly of the area occupied by the shelving, a closure wall for the space containing the shelving; said U-shape elements being arranged in laterally spaced relation; said shelving construction further including prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete plates interconnecting spaced U-shape elements to complete the wall of the shelving enclosure.
 3. A shelving construction comprising substantially identical prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete elements for erecting shelving and shelved structures; each element having an H-shape in plan view and comprising a pair of substantially parallel normally vertical flanges interconnected, intermediate their ends, by a normally vertical web perpendicular to said flanges; the upper and lower edges of said web being co-planar with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said flanges; the upper edges of said flanges and webs having co-planar normally horizontal lateral extensions projecting from both opposite lateral surfaces of said flanges and webs to form supports for shelves, load-bearing pallets and stock; said elements being superposable in vertical alignment to form a shelving construction of a desired height; prefabricated self-supporting reinforced concrete elements each having a U-shape in plan and comprising a pair of substantially parallel normally vertical flanges interconnected, at one end, with each other by a normally vertical web perpendicular to said flanges; the upper and lower edges of said web being co-planar with the upper and lower edges, respectively, of said flanges; the upper edges of said last-named flanges having normally horizontal lateral extensions projecting from both opposite lateral surfaces thereof and the upper edge of said web having a normally horizontal lateral extension projecting from at least one lateral surface thereof; the height of each U-shape element being substantially equal to the height of each H-shape element; said U-shape elements beinG superposable in vertical alignment to form a shelving construction of a desired height and to form, when arranged with their flanges projecting inwardly of the area occupied by the shelving, a closure wall for the space containing the shelving; the web of each U-shape element extending laterally outwardly beyond each flange thereof to abut the web of a laterally adjacent U-shape element to form the wall of the shelving enclosure. 